Looking for Answers is an intriguing autobiography of a Catholic paediatrician – awarded a papal knighthood for his work – who is also a magistrate, political activist and founder member of several charities.

The early chapters review his childhood, training and paediatric work. Cole has lived through major changes in healthcare and gives perceptive comments.

The later chapters describe Cole's work with the Guild of Catholic Doctors and the setting up of the Lejeune clinic for Down's syndrome children. The discussion about his work as a magistrate is most interesting for anyone wanting to learn about the legal system.

There is a brief section on English Catholic Church history. Some serious subjects are addressed but there are plenty of anecdotes to lighten the tone.

As some of Cole's work has been in ethical issues, this book would be a good introduction to those unfamiliar with medicoethical history from 1984. It is valuable for its account of how one Christian has tried to bring faith and hard questions together. It also reminds us how much useful service can be crammed into one life.